--- title: "The Best Greenhouse Plastic" description: "The best greenhouse plastic over a greenhouse provides an optimal environment for starting and growing plants. Check out top picks in this buyer's guide." date: "2021-04-28" modified: "2023-03-15" authors: - name: "Glenda Taylor" job_title: "Staff Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/glenda-taylor/" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/articles/best-greenhouse-plastic/" categories: - "Exterior" - "Gardening" - "Lawn & Garden" - "Lawn, Garden & Pool" - "Reviews" - "Sheds & ADUs" tags: - "choose" - "Commerce" - "gardening" - "MPR" - "outdoor structures" - "Product Category Reviews" --- # The Best Greenhouse Plastic ![The Best Greenhouse Plastic Options]() *Photo: amazon.com* Abundant light is essential for healthy plant growth. While some greenhouse gardeners are fortunate enough to have greenhouse walls made from glass panels, the vast majority of greenhouses feature either rigid plastic panels or plastic sheeting. Compared to glass, plastic is inexpensive, lighter in weight, and, simply put, using plastic to [build a greenhouse]() is easier. The greenhouse offers growers a chance to save money by raising seedlings to later transplant to the garden or provides a spot where tropical plants can survive cold seasons while still receiving ample light. The addition of [self-watering planters](), automatic drip systems, and automatic ventilation systems all increase a greenhouse’s ability to sustain plants. Choosing the best greenhouse plastic covering involves considering the local climate and determining the [type and size of your own greenhouse]() and what is best for the plants growing inside it. In this guide, we list some of the top-rated greenhouse plastics on the market today. We also discuss the different types of plastics available for covering greenhouses and why they are well suited for many greenhouse-covering projects. 1. **BEST OVERALL:** [Grower’s Solution 6-Mil Greenhouse Clear Plastic Film]() 2. **BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK:** [Frost King 6-Mil Packaged Polyethylene Sheeting]() 3. **UPGRADE PICK:** [Arc Direct 14-Mil Heavy-Duty Fiber Poly Tarp]() 4. **BEST SUNBLOCK:** [Ecty 20-Foot-Wide Sunblock Shade Cloth With Grommets]() 5. **BEST REINFORCED:** [Watershed Innovations 11-Mil Heavy-Duty HydraTarp]() 6. **BEST LARGE GREENHOUSE:** [Farm Plastic Supply 6-Mil Greenhouse Plastic Sheeting]() 7. **BEST FOR WINTER:** [Eco Gardener 25-Foot-Wide Greenhouse Plastic Film]() 8. **BEST POLYCARBONATE:** [Silk Road All-Weather Polycarbonate Greenhouse Panels]() 9. **ALSO CONSIDER:** [A&A Grower Supply 6-Mil Clear Plastic Greenhouse Film]() ![The Best Greenhouse Plastic Options]() *Photo: amazon.com* ## How We Chose the Best Greenhouse Plastics Based on our research, we found that the type of materials used, size, thickness, ease of use, installation, and other special features are all important in finding the best greenhouse plastics. Our top choices include greenhouse cover options made from polyethylene and polycarbonate that are 6 to 8 mils thick. To suit any greenhouse structure, these plastics are available in various sizes and opacities, providing diffused light and protecting plants against inclement weather. Regarding installation, many of these plastics include metal grommets for securing or can be cut with a given power tool. For added convenience, some of the [plant covers]() on our top picks list include special features like rope-hem edges and mesh integrated for ample durability. ## Our Top Picks The best greenhouse plastics are durable, thick enough to resist tearing, and include the additional features that growers need. While greenhouse requirements vary depending on the size of the growing operation and the type of plants being cultivated, any of these greenhouse plastic products would be well suited for covering most home greenhouses. Let the sun shine in! This thin and clear polyethylene plastic film from Grower’s Solution is 6 mils thick, allows 91 percent light transmission for plant growth, and has infrared additives that help keep the greenhouse environment stable, reducing heat loss. This film also blocks harmful UV rays, reducing the risk of scorched foliage on sensitive plants. Users can attach this polyethylene plastic film directly to wood or metal greenhouse structures, but it’s essential to prime PVC structures before covering them with this product to prevent plastic degradation. The film is available in various sizes, is suitable for small residential projects to larger commercial ones, and offers superior strength in a clear greenhouse film. **Get the Grower’s Solution greenhouse plastic at [Amazon]() or [Grower’s Solution]().** With this greenhouse plastic sheeting from Frost King, anyone can enjoy the benefits of extending the outdoor growing season without spending a lot of money on greenhouse plastic. Available in clear or black, Frost King’s packaged polyethylene sheeting is 6 mils thick and is 25 feet wide by 10 feet long, making it great for covering greenhouse structures. Best of all, it’s available at an affordable price point. The sheeting features slight opaqueness but does not contain UV blockers, making it best suited for covering a greenhouse that's protected from the hot afternoon sun. While this sheeting doesn't feature many bells and whistles, it should easily last 1 to 2 years. Before any type of polyethylene plastic sheeting is used on a PVC frame, the PVC should be coated with a primer to help prevent the polyethylene from degrading. **Get the Frost King greenhouse plastic at [Amazon]() or [DK Hardware]().** This clear, heavy-duty, polyethylene greenhouse plastic from Arc Direct is a beefy 14 mils thick, thanks to embedded polyester mesh that makes this product more of a tarp than just plastic sheeting. The finished tarp is available in various sizes (from 7-feet-wide feet by 5-feet-long to 40-feet-wide feet by 20-feet-long), and the edges are folded over and finished with reinforced rope for extra durability. The tarp also features UV blockers and is rot- and acid-resistant. It comes with reinforced aluminum grommets spaced every 18 inches along the edges to stake the tarp to the ground for additional wind resistance. This thick greenhouse plastic lets in ample light and is extra thick, so it's suitable for regions prone to high winds. **Get the Arc Direct greenhouse plastic at [Amazon]() (white) or [Arc Direct]() (clear).** For growing plants that need extra protection from direct sun rays, check out this sunblock shade cloth from Ecty. It's designed to protect tender plants from harsh sunlight. This multipurpose cloth features 100 percent UV-stabilized polyethylene and can be installed over a standard hoop greenhouse frame. It features reinforced grommets along the edges for staking or tying down the cover and serves as an essential wind and sun break when used on a greenhouse. The shade provided by this polyethylene film makes it suitable for regions that experience a lot of hot sun. It’s available in a lightweight yet durable 20-foot-wide by 10-foot-long piece. **Get the Ecty greenhouse plastic at [Amazon]().** From the HydraTarp family of heavy-duty, clear covers by Watershed Innovations comes this 11-mil polyethylene clear tarp that's well suited for covering a greenhouse. The plastic is reinforced with a polyester cross-weave mesh that gives the clear plastic added strength and durability. In addition, the tarp features UV blockers and reinforced grommets every 36 inches along its rope-hem edges. Available in seven sizes, this HydraTarp model is both waterproof and rot resistant. Especially due to the double-reinforced corners, this greenhouse tarp offers strong protection against the elements, making it ideal for regions subject to high winds or storms. **Get the Watershed Innovations greenhouse plastic at[ Amazon]() or [Watershed Innovations]().** Farm Plastic Supply’s greenhouse plastic sheeting is a simple polyethylene film offering 55 percent opacity, making it well suited to protect outdoor gardens and vegetation, and it includes UV blockers that guard against the sun’s scorching rays. Prepackaged, this greenhouse plastic is available in several sizes, including 24 feet long by 50 feet wide. On its website, Farm Plastic Supply offers customized lengths for those in need of a specific size. At 6 mils thick, this film is suitable for use on a wood- or metal-framed greenhouse structure. It can be installed in a double layer on a smaller structure if desired to increase thickness and wind protection. **Get the Farm Plastic Supply greenhouse plastic at [Amazon]() or [Farm Plastic Supply]() (white).** Most people wouldn’t put “winter” and “greenhouse” together. But for those who keep their greenhouse going during the coldest months of the year, Eco Gardener’s greenhouse plastic film could be just the ticket. This 6-mil-thick clear film is perfect for any season, including intense cold winters, due to its heavy-duty polyethylene construction. This clear plastic greenhouse film is UV treated and suitable for 4 years of outdoor use. Plus, the anti-drip construction prevents condensation and freezing from occurring to keep large amounts of humidity out of the greenhouse. Finally, this greenhouse plastic can be installed on any metal or wood greenhouse structure. **Get the Eco Gardener greenhouse plastic at [Amazon]().** Most people use polycarbonate film for their greenhouses. This material is a suitable alternative that provides added durability in windy or stormy climates, and Silk Road’s all-weather polycarbonate greenhouse panels are a great choice for gardeners looking to guard against the elements. Available in various size options, Silk Road’s panels have UV-protected faces on the exterior to prevent unwanted burning and heat while still providing sufficient light transmission. The material itself is generally lighter and more impact-resistant than glass for easy installation and durability. For added user-friendliness, these panels, which are 8 mils thick, can also be cut with a circular saw, jig saw, hand saw, or utility knife to fit any frame. **Get the Silk Road greenhouse plastic at [Amazon]() or [Silk Road]().** Protecting new seedlings from the elements is easy with A&A Grower Supply’s greenhouse plastic film. Available in various sizes, this film is 6 mils thick and designed to resist tears from high winds and storms. While it includes UV blockers, this film still offers 90 percent light transmission, making it suitable for placement in a spot that provides at least some protection from the hot afternoon sun. This polyethylene sheeting also helps retain heat after the sun goes down, which may extend a gardener's growing season. For best results, it should be installed on a wood- or metal-framed greenhouse. **Get the A&A Grower Supply greenhouse plastic at [Amazon]() or [A&A Grower Supply]().** ## [Jump to Our Top Picks](<#recap>) ## What to Consider When Choosing the Best Greenhouse Plastic The size of the greenhouse, the durability and price point of the materials, and the types of plants you plan to grow are all considerations when shopping for the best greenhouse plastic sheets. The first thing new [greenhouse gardeners]() will notice is the vast array of plastics on the market, from rigid panels that require a sturdy greenhouse frame to flexible rolls of plastic film to cover hoop or domed greenhouses. In many communities, hoop greenhouses are a welcome addition to backyards and often don’t require a permit. However, to be on the safe side, check with local building authorities and any applicable homeowners association (HOA) before assembling one. ### Material Plastic's ability to let in light while protecting plants from the elements makes it an optimal material for a greenhouse. Still, different types of plastic have their own benefits and considerations. - **Polyethylene:** The most common type of plastic for soft-side greenhouses, polyethylene, or "poly," is used on agricultural, commercial, and home greenhouses. It's affordable and comes in large rolls for attaching to the exterior frames of greenhouses. While polyethylene film doesn't offer the same level of protection as rigid plastic panels, it's easy to repair punctures and tears. Different brands may contain various plastic ingredients called "copolymers" that offer additional features (see below). Use polyethylene film on wood-frame and metal-frame greenhouses, but avoid PVC-frame greenhouses unless the PVC is first painted with a primer. PVC in its bare state can degrade polyethylene over time. - **Polycarbonate:** A rigid form of plastic, polycarbonate comes in flat or corrugated plastic panels for installation on the sides and tops of greenhouses. Polycarbonate is more expensive than polyethylene, but it offers a longer lifespan—up to 7 years or more—and is very durable. A bonus—polycarbonate is nearly as clear as glass, but because it's not flexible, this plastic is not suitable for installation on domed greenhouses. - **Polyvinyl carbonate:** Another rigid and durable option, polyvinyl carbonate is a type of plastic that is used in greenhouse panels, but it's even pricier than polycarbonate. It often comes in multiple layers, featuring a corrugated sheet encased between two flat sheets, and withstands high winds. Polyvinyl carbonate is usually slightly milky in color and available in a range of opaqueness options. ### Size and Thickness While rigid plastic panels range in thickness from a 1/16-inch single sheet up to a 1-inch multilayered sheet, polyethylene film is very thin. Most polyethylene film for covering greenhouses is an average of 6 mils thick. A mil is .001 of an inch, so a 6-mil polyethylene film is just .006 of an inch thick. Growers can often eke out 2 or 3 years of use from standard 6-mil plastic film, depending on the elements. Polyethylene film thinner than 6 mils is often unable to withstand winds and is more prone to tearing. A handful of thicker films are also available, including 10 mils and 14 mils. These top-notch plastic films can last up to 5 years in some cases. ### Single vs. Double Layer Rigid plastic panels are not the only type of greenhouse plastic that comes in layers. Polyethylene film is also available in a double-layer option that features baffles or air pockets—think "bubble wrap." It's more costly than single-layer polyethylene film but offers added insulation and can sometimes last 5 years or longer. The most significant benefit from any multilayer plastic is increased thermal value. It may make the difference between the temperature remaining above or dropping below freezing for greenhouse gardeners in colder climates. Don't depend solely on greenhouse plastic to maintain a suitable temperature, however; supplemental heat may be required depending on how low the temperature dips. ### Additional Features Growing conditions vary widely from one area to another, so choosing the best greenhouse plastic requires considering whether any added protections will be necessary. Fortunately, greenhouse growers have a variety of additional options from which to choose. - **Anti-drip:** Also known as "condensate control," anti-drip co-poly and rigid plastic panels are treated with an agent that reduces surface tension, causing droplets that form inside the greenhouse to run down the plastic rather than sitting on top of it or dripping to the plants below. - **Reduced nighttime heat loss:** To help retain warmth at night when temperatures drop, some types of plastic contain an infrared tint to reduce heat loss. - **Reduced daytime heat gain:** In warm, sunny regions, the temperature inside a greenhouse can become uncomfortably hot during the day. Plastic with reduced daytime heat gain contains pigments that block some of the heat. Growers will still likely need a way to ventilate the greenhouse, however. - **UV protection:** Greenhouse plastic with UV protection is designed to block ultraviolet rays, which may, in turn, reduce certain types of pest infestations, such as aphids and whiteflies. UV blockers don't filter out beneficial light, only damaging UV rays. - **Controlled diffusion:** Similar in purpose to plastic treatments that reduce daytime heat gain, controlled diffusion softens the light that comes into the greenhouse, giving shade-loving plants plenty of light, but not direct scorching rays. - **Light transmission:** This is a percentage score commercial growers often look for when shopping for greenhouse plastic products. A light transmission score, called a PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) score, indicates the quality of light the plastic allows through to the plants. Plastic that blocks UV rays has a PAR score of around 88 to 91 percent, while plastic that features anti-drip sheeting has a score of about 82 to 87 percent. These percentages are typically referenced only by commercial and agricultural growers when ordering greenhouse plastic. - **Photoselective:** The color of light is just as vital to some plants as the quality of light. For example, plastic with a red hue may increase the size and health of roses, so specialty growers may seek out photoselective plastic, depending on the results they hope to achieve. - **Reinforced film:** Plastic film can be beefed up through reinforcement with a polyester mesh that gives the film added strength and reduces tears. ### Installation Depending on the type of greenhouse, installing polyethylene film is typically a simple matter of draping the plastic over the greenhouse frame and then attaching small strips of wood (furring strips) to hold it in place. This is a common way of installing plastic film on large or [compact greenhouses](). High-end film, such as double-layer film with baffles or insulating bubbles, may require a particular channel system that secures the film without penetrating the plastic. Rigid plastic is often installed by cutting the panels to size and then inserting screws through them directly into the greenhouse frame. Reducing overly high humidity in a greenhouse (use a [hygrometer]() to determine) can often be remedied by temporarily attaching the bottom of the plastic film to the greenhouse base but not nailing it in place with furring strips. When humidity rises in the greenhouse, simply roll up the sides of the plastic to offer ventilation. ## FAQs Having a greenhouse opens a world of growing possibilities that aren't available inside a typical home with limited windows and space to start seeds and care for plants. Growers wanting to produce healthy vegetables or grow flowers in a greenhouse will likely have some questions about the types of greenhouse plastic available. ## Author Glenda Taylor is a BobVila.com staff writer with a background in the residential remodeling, home building, and home improvement industries. She started writing for BobVila.com in 2016 and covers a range of topics, including construction methods, code compliance, tool use, and the latest news in the housing and real estate industries.